77 easy cocktails

Easy cocktail recipes

Espresso martini

One of the coolest cocktails around, this punchy little number blends hot espresso and vodka for a smooth, rich result. A great after-dinner drink.

Passion fruit martini

Add both sharpness and sweetness to your next martini with fresh passion fruit and lime juice. Vanilla vodka, if you have it, works well in this recipe.

Spicy margarita

Raise a glass with this easy tequila cocktail with a kick of chilli for extra warmth – try swapping tequila for mezcal for a smokier flavour.

Purple rain

This classic cocktail gets it unusual colour from a combination of blue curaçao and grenadine. Perfect for a retro dinner party or birthday drinks.

Zombie cocktail

Like your cocktails intense? This punchy cocktail comes packed with three types of rum, anise liqueur and Angostura bitters.

Classic bellini

Whip up this three-ingredient cocktail for a quick and easy drink that’ll go down a treat at your next dinner party.

Old fashioned

A seriously sophisticated cocktail, the old fashioned calls for just four ingredients. It's a punchy, mature and super-classy option.

Amaretto sour

This Amaretto sour looks impressive and only requires four ingredients, making it perfect for a round of drinks to present at your next dinner party.

Negroni

Check out our quick and easy recipe for this punchy Italian aperitif. We've kept this one classic, but try plenty of twists here, including sbagliatos, cynar negronis and more.

Negroni sbagliato

Swapping the gin for prosecco makes for a lighter negroni and softens the bitterness, meaning this is an ideal aperitif for those who find a classic negroni a bit much.

Manhattan cocktail

Live like a trendy New Yorker with our classic Manhattan recipe. It's best served in a coupe glass, with an illuminous cocktail cherry to garnish.

Classic daiquiri

The perfect balance of sweet and tart, try this classic daiquiri recipe at your next drinks party.

Woo woo

This fruity recipe calls for fewer than 5 ingredients and is ready to serve in 2 minutes. What could be better than that?

Cosmopolitan

Make like Carrie Bradshaw and fix yourself a cosmo this evening. A deliciously sweet-tart concoction, it only requires four ingredients, plus a little orange peel to garnish.

Long island iced tea

This classic, easy-drinking cocktail combines vodka, gin, tequila, rum and triple sec. Serve with plenty of ice.

Raspberry daiquiri

A classic with a twist, this bright-red concoction uses fresh raspberries, lots of lime juice and white rum. A fruity, refreshing cocktail, perfect for summer.

Sex on the beach

This citrussy serve is perfect for sunny days and is made with just a handful of ingredients.

Blue lagoon

Our simple blue lagoon recipe mixes vodka with blue curaçao, lemonade and lime juice, and is garnished with a maraschino cherry.

Tequila sunrise

This easy recipe can be mixed up in just 2 minutes – simply pour the tequila, orange juice and triple sec into an ice-filled highball glass, mix gently, then slowly pour over the grenadine.

French martini

This twist on a classic martini offers fruity, fragrant flavours thanks to the raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice, making it the perfect refresher for a hot summer’s day.

Margarita cocktail

Shake up this classic tequila cocktail for a refreshing tipple that's perfect for summer.

Mojito

The mojito is such a summertime classic. Starring fresh mint and rum, it's super refreshing and sure to whisk you away to the Caribbean.

Mai tai

If you’re into rum, give your weekend a tropical twist with our mai tai, a super fruity cocktail and heady mix of two types of rum, orange curacao, almond syrup and lime juice.

Piña colada

Best drunk in the sun on holiday, piña coladas really are the bee's knees. Transport yourself to the tropics by recreating our perfect recipe at home.

White wine sangria

Our simple white sangria with delicate elderflower and seasonal fruity flavours is perfect for alfresco dining.

Gin fizz

All you need is 5 minutes to make this delicate, summery gin fizz cocktail.

How to serve pastis

Pastis is not a cocktail per se, but rather a classic French aperitif. It’s an aromatic spirit that you simply add water to.

Winter sangria

A riff on port and lemon from the 1970s, this wintry twist on sangria is a great way to use up any leftover port and also works well with red wine.

Earl grey and marmalade cooler

If you’re looking for alcohol-free drinks, tea is your friend. Here, the smokiness of earl grey adds depth to this bright and citrussy mocktail.

Boulevardier

Bourbon adds a rich, rounded edge in this boulevardier, mixed with Campari and sweet vermouth.

Buck's fizz

Whip up a sophisticated buck’s fizz in minutes with our easy recipe – use crémant instead of champagne, if you like.

Sloe gin fizz

This twist on a classic gin fizz swaps regular gin for sloe gin, which you can make at home.

Grasshopper cocktail

This retro, three-ingredient drink of crème de menthe, white crème de cacao and single cream makes for an ideal dessert cocktail or festive party tipple.

White russian

Vodka, coffee liqueur and cream is all it takes to make this smooth, classic cocktail. Serve in an old fashioned glass to be really authentic.

PX Manhattan

Pedro ximénez sherry is the key to this clever riff on a classic manhattan, which is best sipped on a winter's evening.

Black russian

Make this classic dark cocktail with vodka and coffee liqueur. Serve in an old fashioned glass with ice for an elegant after-dinner drink you can make in minutes.

Marmalade and mandarin mojito

Marmalade mojitos make a deliciously jammy cocktail, made to look really delicious with mandarin slices and star anise. Try this five minute cocktail recipe for an easy refresher.

Spritz

Sip this spritz before a meal – mixing sparkling wine with Campari (any bitter aperitif will do), and soda water.

Martinez

Try this super-chic cocktail at your next drinks party, combining gin, vermouth and maraschino liqueur with bitters.

Spiced sidecar

A warming, cold-weather cocktail made using homemade spiced brandy. Omit the spices for a classic sidecar cocktail, or try using bourbon if you can’t find cognac.

Americano cocktail

This classic cocktail requires just three ingredients: vermouth, Campari and sparkling water. Garnish with a wedge of orange.

Vesper martini

In this martini recipe, Lillet Blanc, a wine-based aperitif from France, is shaken with gin and vodka and served with a twist of lemon.

Blueberry margarita

The spiced salt rim is the cherry on top of this fruity take on a classic cocktail.

Tuxedo cocktail

Savour the sophistication of this sleek tuxedo cocktail, a close cousin to the classic martini, with a distinctive twist. Instead of vermouth it uses dry fino sherry to lend an appetisingly nutty edge.

Sidecar

A simple mix of cognac, lemon juice and Cointreau, this cocktail is zingy, citrussy, and perfect for those who like a sour cocktail.

Mezcal sour cocktail

Omri McNabb's cocktail from The Palomar restaurant sees mezcal mixed with pisco, aperitivo, egg whites, lime juice and cranberry bitters.

Pineapple and schichimi margarita

Take the classic margarita somewhere new and refreshing with this pineapple twist.

Paper plane cocktail

This four-ingredient cocktail from Maria G’s balances bourbon with amaro – a bitter-sweet herbal liqueur. It makes a great digestif.

Mezcal paloma

Check out this quick and easy summer cocktail recipe with mezcal, zesty limes and sweet yet slightly bitter grapefruit juice. A paloma is usually made with tequila but using mezcal instead adds a lovely smoky edge to the drink.

Apricot bellini

Blitz up fresh apricots in this summery version of a classic Italian prosecco cocktail.

Gimlet cocktail

This easy gimlet sees gin mixed with lime syrup, lime juice and mint, making a simple yet refreshing tipple.

Classic whisky highball

Made with just two ingredients, our whisky highball recipe is winningly easy to make.

Tawny port and tonic

A cocktail that requires only two ingredients is just what you want at the end of a long day. Match nutty tawny port with tonic water and a sprig of thyme to garnish.

Black Mout Montserrat cocktail

This vibrant rum-based cocktail from Brixton restaurant Caribe’ features a punchy mix of spiced rum, ginger ale, lime and bitters.

Frozen margarita

Recreate your favourite tequila cocktail at home with this no-fuss frozen margarita, served in a salt-crusted glass for extra flair.

Frozen strawberry daiquiri

It's party time! Grab strawberries, rum, lime juice and ice, then blitz it all together for quick-as-you-like homemade cocktails.

Whisky sour

In a whisky sour, the lemon juice is (almost) as vital as the bourbon. A generous, foamy top is what you're aiming for with this drink.

Caipirinha

Mojito fans in particular will love this light, zesty yet punchy cocktail, which is Brazil's national drink.

Sake and tonic

Use sake instead of gin to create a crisp, refreshing, low-ABV drink – perfect for sipping at parties.

Dark and stormy punch

Want an easy rum punch recipe? Check out this quick and easy summery concoction with tropical pineapple, zesty limes and fiery ginger.

Pineapple whisky sour

Like a whisky sour, but with the added wonder of pineapple juice. Adding a little fruit makes this whisky cocktail light and refreshing.

Sake martini

Swap vermouth for sake in this Japanese-inspired take on the classic cocktail.

Lagerita cocktail

This largertia takes the tequila from a classic margarita and combines it with beer. Make this quick and easy cocktail for a simple but refreshing drink this summer.

Lychee martini

For an elegant aperitif to serve at your next drinks party, make this fruity and silky lychee martini from London bar Humble Chicken.

Mezcal and elderflower highball

Mix up a round of highballs, where mezcal is topped with rose water and grapefruit and garnished with edible flowers.

Frozen peach margaritas

Nothing quite says summer like a frozen margarita and we've given it a fruity twist with this recipe for frozen peach margaritas. They're easy to make and perfect for a boozy dessert.

Sake cider fizz

Spike sparkling cider with sake and yuzu juice for an elegant, easy-drinking cocktail.

White negroni

Campari is replaced with Suze in this herbal, citrussy take on a negroni.

Rhubarb and rose gin fizz

We’ve given a classic ramos gin fizz an update, swapping the usual orange blossom water for rose water and adding a touch of homemade rhubarb syrup to give it a blush of pink. It’s delicate in flavour and creamy enough to replace dessert.

Passion fruit caipirinha

A passion fruit twist on the punchy Brazilian cocktail, this is an ideal drink for those warm summer evenings.

Mezcal, pineapple and jalapeño smash

The smoky notes of the mezcal work wonderfully with the grilled pineapple and gentle heat from the chilli in this spicy drink. It’s simple to make and can easily be made into a jug cocktail for a crowd.

Strawberry margarita slushies

Stay cool this summer with these refreshing strawberry margarita slushies. These fruity drinks are super quick and easy to make, a perfect crowd pleaser.

Coco no loco

Spike the coconut water with Diplomatico Blanco for a slightly more virtuous cocktail.

Pickle martini

Savoury cocktail lovers should try this – we like using the brine from a jar of gherkins or, for an aromatic twist, try brine from a jar of preserved lemons.

Banana daiquiri

Transport yourself to a sunny beach with this fruity daiquiri cocktail, bursting with tropical and summery flavours including banana and white rum.

Pineapple whisky sour

Pineapple juice adds a refreshing fruity twist to the classic whisky sour, as well as giving it a lighter edge. Try this recipe to see what we mean.

Christmas spritz

A classic spritz is given a festive makeover: simply mix Aperol, sparkling wine and bitters with ginger beer and garnish with orange, star anise and pomegranate seeds.

Revolver cocktail

Elevate your festive tipple! Beyond the espresso martini, indulge in a caffeinated Christmas sipper with this unique twist on a Manhattan.

Sherry sour

Want a simple cocktail recipe for the festive season? Impress friends and family with our easy-drinking sherry sour.

Calypso coffee

Strong coffee is spiked with coffee liqueur and rum before being topped with a snow-white layer of cream. It's great for the festive season and is easy to whip up at home.

Mulled old fashioned

This festive twist on a classic cocktail features a homemade syrup infused with cinnamon, orange and cloves for a warming, subtly spiced result.

Poinsettia cocktail

If you’re bored of buck’s fizz, try serving this rosy red cocktail at your next festive brunch or party – it’s easy to make and great for groups.